Plataria (Πλαταριά) is a small town located at the head of a deep bay on the Ionian coast of Greece three miles S of Igoumenitsa and the same distance NE of Mourtos. The harbour consists of a town quay which is largely occupied during the season by charter yachts of the Top Deck and Sailing Holidays companies and a large basin immediately NW, which is formed by a long curving breakwater and a short quay extending SSW from the shore. There is also an anchorage off a long sandy beach S of the harbour. The harbour offers a useful port of call for yachts transiting the Corfu Channel, but is very busy at weekends during the season, when there is often no space at all for visiting yachts owing to the charter changeovers. Although the bay is open NW, shelter is generally good in the prevailing NW winds, although a swell enters with very strong winds from this direction.

Charts

BA

206 Corfu: Channels

Imray-Tetra

G11 Nísos Kérkira to Nísos Levkas

NIMA

54280 Corfu Channel to Nisis Proti

Greek

10 Kerkyra

Weather

In summer the weather conditions are typical for the northern Ionian. The early morning is usually calm. At about 11:00 the first light wind starts to blow from the NW into the bay, increasing as the afternoon passes and then dying away again in the evening.

Passages

Islands

Communication

Navigation

In the approach from N, the extensive shallows extending nearly two miles offshore to the N of Cape Kalamas need to be given a good clearance. Once into the bay, note that there is a shoal patch with little more than 5.0 metres over it around 250 metres W of the harbour.

Berthing

Platarias from the outer breakwater

Yachts on the breakwater quay, Platarias (fishing boats use the end)

Platarias town quay on changeover day

Most of the inner section of the breakwater is occupied by local boats on laid moorings and yachts left on gardiennage. Usually only the outer third of the breakwater is available for visiting yachts. Yachts berth stern or bows to the quay here using their anchors wherever there is space. The end of the breakwater is used by fishing boats and is best avoided. Mooring is to bollards or rusty mooring rings. This outer third section is very low and with sustained NW winds or low pressure conditions is often flooded. Depths at the quay are around 4.0 metres and you will be dropping anchor in 3.5 – 4.0 metres. Note that the holding is mediocre in soft mud. Plough-type anchors such as CQR and Delta tend to drag through the mud and need some effort to dig in.

Alternatively, visiting yachts can moor if there is space on the town quay immediately in front of the town, again using their anchors and going stern or bows-to. Mooring is to bollards (widely spaced) or to one of a series of large shackles fastened to the heavy chain that extends the whole length of the quay and is wrapped round the bollards. Depths at the quay are around 4.0 metres (not 2.0 as shown in some pilot books) and you will be dropping anchor in similar depths. Again, the holding is mediocre and plough-type anchors such as CQR and Delta tend to drag through the mud here and need some effort to dig in. During flotilla turn around days the quay is usually hectic with flotilla boats and there may be some overflow of flotilla yachts onto the outer breakwater. Once a day someone will come round and ask for the boat's name, length, nationality and official registration number (although this seems not to happen outside the peak sailing months).

Note: The most southerly berth along the town quay, immediately inside the short pier at the S end of the harbour, is used by the ferry and you will be chased off if you berth here.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Anchorages

During the summer and in settled weather it is usually possible to anchor off the beach to the S of the harbour if the latter is full. Anchor in 5.0 – 6.0 metres. The holding is good in sand and weed.

Amenities

Facilities

Water

There are several water and electricity outlets along the main breakwater. These were working in September 2012 and no charge was being made. There is no water on the town quay

Electricity

There are also several electricity outlets along the main breakwater. These were working in September 2012 and no charge was being made. There is no electricity on the town quay.

Toilets

N/A (Not Available).

Showers

N/A

Laundry

N/A

Garbage

There are skips for garbage at the root of the long breakwater and at the N end of the town quay

Supplies

Fuel

Diesel fuel can be brought to the dock by mini-tanker

Bottled gas

?

Chandlers

None

Services

Repairs

N/A

Internet

At Centro Café and others along the waterfront

Mobile connectivity

?

Vehicle rentals

N/A

Provisioning

Two medium-sized supermarkets near the town quay

Two fruiterers, one on the town quay and one up the street leading off from its N end

Butcher along the waterfront

Bakery along the waterfront

Eating out

There are a number of bars and cafes to eat at ashore

Olga’s Tavern is popular with charter crews and is therefore hectic on Friday and Saturday nights in season

For a superior eating experience it may be worth walking to the far end of the beach where there are two or three better restaurants

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

Tourism

The setting of Platarias is less attractive than some of the other harbours along the Ionian coast, such as Mourtos and Parga, being surrounded by mountains bare of vegetation. It does, however, boast a superb fine shingle beach just five minutes’ walk from the town quay.

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

Links

References

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

We weathered a strong thunderstorm in Plataria (September 2012), with winds estimated at 45-50 knots. The water in the harbour turned to the colour of mud and we and several other yachts dragged, both on the breakwater and the town quay. Watching the charter operators, they really dig in their anchors hard and visiting yachts need to do the same if bad weather is predicted. Oh, and the breakwater was truly awash because of the low barometric pressures and the river which flows into the bay was even running backwards! --Athene of Lymington 15:27, 16 September 2012 (BST)

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